Just curious how much difference having eyes on the jig head actually makes? Any of you guys have any thoughts on if they actually increase the chance of catching fish or are they more for the fisherman?
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Just curious how much difference having eyes on the jig head actually makes? Any of you guys have any thoughts on if they actually increase the chance of catching fish or are they more for the fisherman?
Personally I don't think much help is gained from adding eyes and the only eyes I use on my stuff is just a black eye on my Roadrunners. Once spring is over and I go to a different jig, don't use eyes. I think they look great, but maybe is best for the fisherman's confidence and that is a big thing as nothing is more important than that. There is always a line for a tip page I read was this.... Have you ever seen a baitfish without eyes? Have to say no, but I still don't believe in the. Enough to go that extra mile on my personal jigs.
I have been using two jigs on each line (one with and one without eyes) and without a doubt neither makes a difference.
The eyes are how my daughter pics out which jig head she wants....
It's always, "pink head with the googly eyes please".
I have a customer that swears by having eyes on his jigs. He will not buy them without eyes on them. I think it may make a difference in really clear water, but folks have been fishing and catching fish a lot longer than 3D eyes have been on jig heads.
Just my thoughts,
Bobo
I fish with as many plain-jane old lead heads, no paint or anything, as I do painted ones and do fine. In making my plastic baits I add eyes to take pictures of what I created because the baits look dynamite all shiney and nice with pretty eyes, but for fishing I don't make my baits with eyes.
Here in Minnesota when fishing under ice and the fish tend to study a bait a long time before committing to a hit eyes may help out, but again I have never noticed a difference nor have I seen the need for eyes in that circumstance.
Adds confidence to the fishermen. Many customers want certain color with specific eye pattern.
Our home lake is Greers Ferry lake has some huge walleye in it!! My father has caught many large Walleye out of the lake 15-16 pounders!! one knocking 20 lb!! No telling how many 10 lber he has caught an eaten!! They are mounted in the Country Store at Drasco Ark to view!! He never fishes for walleye (finicky fish) to catch espically the big ones!! He never,Never Never uses a jig head with out eyes and prefers a jig head with one eye missing!! Indecating a injured or hurt shad or his favorite is a small Bream!!!
"He never,Never Never uses a jig head with out eyes and prefers a jig head with one eye missing!! "....Jackie53
So which side of the equation works? Maybe the fish are hitting from the side without the eye. lol
My father has taught me you can look at the fish's EYES and tell how they are feeding(look at the next one(fish) you catch!!! If the eyes are turned up they are feeding on top (over their head(shad,bream)If they are turned down they are feeding on Bottom!!!!(Crawfish,Worms,Bottom feeders)!! My father had caught the World record Walleye over 20 lb's but cleaned and ate it Walleye(the head was on his garden fench post)!! The game and fish measured the head and told him he just ate a world record Walleye!!! LOL!Quote:
Originally Posted by CTom
The name of the creek he caught the 20 lber out of is close to fairfield Bay(Lynn Creek) which has the 22 lb-11 oz world record walleye caught by none other fishing legend Al Nelson of Hidgen bay!!!! On display in their Marina!!!
I sometimes think the fisherman wants a more "detailed" lure and HE makes the determination whether eyes look good or not. NOT the fish. They don't care what the lure looks like as long as it looks foreign in their habitat and they want to eat it. I have caught crappie on minnows without heads (the head got ripped off from a previous bite) and the strike was just as if it had it's head and eyes still on. The fish don't care. They just want to eat what they think is food and that is usually anything that swims into their area they are holding in. I have used both jigs with and without eyes an I have found they both entice a bite. I even fish without color on the jig heads and that works just as well also. I figure it's the body they want anyway. That's where all the nutrients are.
Does eyes help, not 100% sure but I do know coming up we never, never ever has jigs with eyes, but we caught fish. As tackle makers found that jigs with eyes would sell better they started showing up all over, even in the old country stores that have now been gone many years. Eyes makes the jig look very nice. I like to use jigs with eyes but most of the time the ones I use don't have eyes. I do think at times eyes makes the difference when fishing clear water. This question has and can be debated to no end. I guess the best question for each fisherman would be, does having eyes on your jigs give you more confidence.
For my use it would be no.
Good question!!! If Eyes don't matter!! Why does size 1 in,2 in,3in and different colors!!Matter (white)black)Gray would be all you need to catch a fish?Shad, minnows are one color (gray) with silver scales and a white belly depending on water clear or stained!! Good Question!! Good debate!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by slipperyrock
IMO, there are days when eyes make a difference sometimes however eyes have a negative impact.
Don't believe you actually need them but it makes a jig look good!
:ThumbsUp:ThumbsUp:ThumbsUp:fish:Doh:Quote:
Originally Posted by Fatman
Bobo
I fished with a feller this spring, using a non painted jig, no eyes, and a plain whiteish jig he makes. Every dock every cast was a fish. I have done the same with no paint, no eyes. Jigs that I have tied have no eyes. The water I fish in most of the time is salt/fresh mix.(Coastal N.C.) Can't see a jig a foot down its so dark. So I don't think so. Just my three cents.
I'm not sure that painted jigheads have extra fish catching ability, but I pour all my jigs and enjoy painting , adding eyes etc.. This I can do in my fishing room at night or when the weather is bad and i can't go fishing. To me this is almost enjoyable as actual fishing (not quite) and when I catch a fish on a special colored or decorated jig it is just "more better"Quote:
Originally Posted by slipperyrock
my personal jigs I just paint, no eye's but customers want eye's they get eye's (3-D)...just takes a lot of time to install and coat so they wont come off! I use to jump in every discussion on painted and non painted heads ...do fish prefer? all I know is PINK they like PINK...oh well you like eye's put them on...I'm tired... I'm only putting them on if you want them...but there will be an upcharge! heheheheh
putting eyes on jigs makes that jig look better also it catches a lot of fishermen. there is a lot of pro and con on whether eyes on the jig produces more fish over the years I've seen no difference between eyeballs on the jig and no eyeballs on the jig far as it goes on catching fish there is one thing I do believe in is if you're trying to copy a certain bait make it look as natural as you can on what they are feeding on I think it does encourage more strikes this way.
I like to add holographic over sized eyes to my hand tied jigs -- but never on a tube jig. To me they really make a difference-- but I have not yet gotten a reply from the fish to get his perspective ;)
on minnow heads i use eyes as a personal preference.i never paint minnow heads except with clear.clean em with a little vinegar to make the lead shine paint with clear some times a little pearl glitter
I'm a believer that at times eyes will catch more fish and other times their is no difference. Especially fishing very deep or dirty water where most available light has been filtered out a glow eye will out fish a plain head big time. How can eyes not matter but the color of plastic or tying material does? Makes no sense to me. Fish have to see it before they eat it and I give them something they can see.
A successful bass fisherman wrote somewhere that he had much better success when using jigheads without eyes. His theory was that bass are more likely to invest the energy to pursue a potential meal if the prey won't see them coming. If the bass can see the eye of the prey, the prey can probably notice the bass starting its pursuit and flee.
Most crappie jigs are so small, and are fished so slowly, that I doubt crappies worry about them escaping their vacuum-cleaner mouths.
I don't think eyes make a difference for crappies. Most of the crappies I've caught have hit jigs without painted (or glued-on) eyes.
i take a trip every april to a really good crappie lake.i will try with and without eyes hard to make a claim without trying both on a given day.the lake is pretty clear and deep.last couple years it has been a minnow bite tho and jigs were just not as productive in the cold water last couple times.some years a road runner with a southern pro slug tipped with a waxworm were the best producer as they wanted to chase it.all i know is minnows have eyes and that little extra flash cant hurt.
For cold water I would probably pick a lot more kip tail jigs! Also maybe some squirrel tail. I never use soft plastic below 50 degrees so feathers or hair and if cold I feel if they are in a sluggish mood they don't want a lot of action like marabou has, they want like kip tail. Just my 2 cents!Quote:
Originally Posted by jcozzz
I don't think it matters much on putting eyes on or leaving them off. Just whatever works best for you.